The Time Machine Page #5

DR. HILLYER (getting angry)

Space is space! It doesn't change!

The same space that is here now should

be here a hundred or even a thousand

years from now.

TIME TRAVELLER:

No! Time changes space. This flat

ground we're standing on now could

have been at the bottom of the sea

a million years ago. And a million

years from now it could be the

interior of a huge mountain.

Dr. Hillyer turns away, speechless.

GROUP SHOT 32

Kemp steps forward.

KEMP:

Suppose what you say is true.

Exactly what do you suggest we do

with such a contraption?

TIME TRAVELLER:

For my part, I intend to take a

journey into the future. - Unless

someone else prefers to volunteer.

There is no response.

BRIDEWELL (chuckling)

I say, George. Suppose you go off

and get lost in the fiftieth century!

How will you find your way back?

TIME TRAVELLER (quite

serious)

That's a calculated risk I'm prepared

to take.

Dr. Hillyer, having controlled his fury, now exchanges

significant glances with Kemp and turns back with an

air of reasonableness.

DR. HILLYER

Now listen, George! I don't

know what you take us for, but

we're not fools. There are a

number of ways of doing a

disappearing trick! But a man of

your ability should not bother

with such nonsense.

CLOSE ON DR. HILLIER - MOVING SHOT 33

He gets up from his chair.

DR. HILLYER (unable to

resist the temptation for

sarcasm)

There's a war on, you know! The

Boers are putting up a pretty stiff

fight in South Africa and our

country needs inventors like you.

I can put you in touch with the

War Office if you wish.

He walks over to the Time Traveller who is sitting

near the table on which stands the empty Ebony Box

with its lid open. Filby is in the b.g.

TIME TRAVELLER (looks

up at Filby)

What do you think?

FILBY (hesitating

slightly, and then)

I think Dr. Hillyer has a point,

George.

Lazily the Time Traveller toys with the lid of the

Ebony Box, then closes it with a SNAP. He looks up

and nods.

DR. HILLYER

Now you're being sensible. I'll

take care of it first thing in

the New Year.

BACK TO GROUP SHOT 34

Everyone rises.

DR. HILLYER

Well, time to go.

KEMP:

Yes, we all have our plans for

tonight.

Dr. Hillyer and Kemp head toward the door. Bridewell

lingers at the table where the model of the Time

Machine disappeared.

BRIDEWELL (concerned)

Are you all right, George?

TIME TRAVELLER:

Of course, I am.

DR. HILLYER'S VOICE

Coming, Bridewell?

Reluctantly Bridewell leaves the library followed

by the Time Traveller.

INT. ENTRANCE HALL - FULL SHOT 35

While his guests put on their capes, overcoats, scarfs,

gloves and hats, preparing for the cold weather

outside, the Time Traveller steps to the door and

grasps the handle.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Thanks for coming.

He opens the door and they file past him, Bridewell

at the rear.

AD LIBS:

Happy New Year. - Goodbye, George -

Happy Twentieth Century. - Etc.

Bridewell clasps the Time Traveller's shoulder,

reassuringly.

EXT. COTTAGE - LONG SHOT - (DUSK) - (MATTE) 36

In contrast to the previous SHOT (Sc.l) this is a snow-

less wintery day. The visitors are boarding the

carriage that awaits them in the drive.

DR. HILLYER

Come on, Bridewell.

Bridewell glances back to the Time Traveller, then

submits and, with a CRACK OF A WHIP, the carriage

moves off.

EXT. ENTRANCE - FULL SHOT 37

The Time Traveller, a silhouette framed in the door-

way, waves to them.

THE CARRIAGE 38

As it pulls away, Bridewell leans out, waving. From

the opposite direction another carriage full of NOISY

YOUNG PEOPLE THUNDERS by. In early New Year's Eve

REVELRY they TOOT their toy HORNS at the Time Traveller.

BACK TO THE TIME TRAVELLER 39

Unmindful of their salutations he turns and enters the

cottage.

INT. ENTRANCE HALL - MED SHOT 40

The Time Traveller slowly closes the door and leans his

back against it, staring into space. Thinking. - He

spots a newspaper on a nearby table, apparently left by

one of his guests, and picks it up.

INSERT:
NEWSPAPER 40-A

A ROLL OF DRUMS in military fashion ACCENTS the headline

that the Boer Army has won another victory.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 40-B

He closes his eyes and, added to the DRUMS, we HEAR

the call to battle by a DISTANT BUGLE. Then more

BRASS, FIFES and HORNS join the BUGLE and DRUMS to take

up a MILITANT OVERTURE.

He loosens his collar, then with sudden resolution

strides toward:

OMITTED 41-56

INT. LIBRARY - LONG SHOT 57

The Time Traveller crosses to his writing table in

the f.g. He stands there and even in the darkness

WE CAN OBSERVE that he is an angry man. He strikes

a match and lights the overhead gas fixture. The

light comes up and the MUSIC STOPS as he stares

across the room to see:

FILBY - MED. SHOT 58

sitting in a chair near the fireplace.

FILBY:

I thought I'd better stay.

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